KARACHI, June 12(The Nation)- The Applied
Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi, Director Prof Dr Shahida
Wizarat was directed on Monday by the KU Vice Chancellor to handover the charge
of directorship immediately to the KU Dean Faculty of Arts.

The KU Registrar
Prof Muhammad Rais Alvi on Monday issued an office order to Prof Dr Shahida
Wizarat, stating that following the serious reports/ complaints regarding your
performance as Director of the centre, your are directed by the KU Vice
Chancellor and Chairman Board of Governors Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui
to handover the charge of directorship immediately to the Dean Faculty of Arts
Prof Dr Muhammad Shamsuddin.

"Dr Shamsuddin has joined the centre on Monday,
but Dr Wizarat did not handover the charge of the directorship," a source at the
centre said.

The source said that after receiving the office order
from the registrar office, Dr Shahida Wizarat held a meeting of faculty members
of the AERC where she informed the faculty members about the vice chancellor
decision.

"The faculty members of the centre expressed their deep concern
over the removal of Dr Shahida Wizarat from the directorship. Dr Wizarat also
expressed her concern over the remarks, quoted in the office order that the
decision of removing Dr Wizarat was made due to complains and serious reports
regarding the her performance, and she said the KU VC Prof Pirzada had praised
the efforts made at the centre in the BOG meeting held in last December," the
source added.

The source said that rift had been noticed between the vice
chancellor and Dr Shahida Wizarat on different administrative issues. "Such rift
resulted in the removal of the Dr Wizarat from the directorship of the AERC," he
said.